Naples Fishing Charters & Guides

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Charters Near Naples
Capt Joey D Charters - 32ft boat
Naples, FL
(4.9, 19 Reviews)
Capt Joey D Charters - 22ft boat
Naples, FL
(5.0, 12 Reviews)
Capt Joey D Charters - Island Dreamer
Naples, FL
(4.9, 16 Reviews)
Capt Joey D Charters - 25ft boat
Naples, FL
(5.0, 3 Reviews)
Chasin’ Tales Fishing Charters
Naples, FL
(5.0, 6 Reviews)
About Fishing in Naples

Naples, Florida is a city that truly has it all. Pristine beaches, a slew of shopping and dining options, and of course, a year round fishery. Naples is a premier destination for anglers looking to catch their next big catch. Whether you are looking to fish inshore, nearshore, or offshore, there is a Naples fishing charter waiting for you! With the help of a professional guide, anglers can have an even better experience in the waters of Naples. Fishing charters in Naples, Florida are geared up with experienced and helpful captains so that you can safely enjoy the best that the Gulf has to offer!

Naples Inshore Fishing

Like many southwest Florida Gulf Coast cities, inshore fishing in Naples is all about Snook, Redfish, Trout, and Tarpon. On any given day of the year, at least one of these sought after species is biting.

Naples Snook Fishing

The Snook is a very popular target on Naples fishing charters, and for good reason! This fish is often described as "a bass on steroids." This comparison comes from their aggressive strikes, acrobatic fighting style, and pound for pound strength. Most Snook will be 18-30", however they can grow up to four feet long and over 60 pounds. Snook are easily identified by their prominent lateral line, a black pinstripe running down the side of the fish.

Snook can be found in a variety of inshore habitats including flats, mangrove backwater, docks, bridges, and even cruising just off of the beach. Bait and tackle will vary based on where you are fishing, but live shrimp or pinfish on a spinning setup are typically the "go-to's." Naples fishing charters eliminate the guesswork for your group by providing all necessary bait and tackle.

Snook become lethargic in cooler water. Although they can be caught year round in Naples, mid-March to late September is the best time of the year to target these iconic inshore fish.

Naples Redfish Fishing

Redfish, also known as Red Drum or "Reds," are another excellent game fish in the Naples area. Reds prefer to hang out in shallow areas with sandy bottoms and near grassy structures like oyster bars or grass flats. They are also common around docks in passes.

When targeting reds on Naples fishing charters, anglers should use cut bait or live shrimp. Reds will usually take a variety of presentations including jigs, plugs, and soft plastics. Redfish are stubborn fighters, known for strong, sustained runs.

Similar to Snook, Redfish can be caught throughout the year in Naples. The best months to target them however are late spring to early fall.

Naples Speckled Trout Fishing

Speckled Trout, or “Specks” as they are commonly called, are a Naples favorite. These fish thrive in shallow grass flats and can be found near oyster bars and mangrove shorelines. The Naples area has some of the best trout fishing in Florida.

When targeting Specks on a Naples fishing charter, fly anglers should use a floating line and poppers or streamers. Spin fishermen will have the most success with soft plastics like jerk baits, jigs, D.O.A. shrimp, and live bait such as shrimp or pinfish. Specks can be caught year round in Naples, with early summer being the most productive, and early winter being the least.

Naples Tarpon Fishing

Tarpon are arguably the most sought after inshore sport fish in Florida. Known as the "Silver King," Tarpon can grow up to 8 feet long and nearly 300 pounds. They are an exceptionally hard fighting fish, notorious for throwing the hook on one of their many acrobatic jumps. This happens often enough that anglers will keep a separate tally of tarpon "jumped" and landed, "jumped" referring to hookups that were lost.

Most Naples fishing charters will set anglers up with heavy spin tackle and live bait when chasing tarpon. Crabs are the most common bait, but pinfish, mullet, pilchards, and greenbacks can produce a strike as well. Tarpon are often sight fished, seen "rolling" in small schools along the surface of the water. The charter captain will position the boat so the angler can cast past the lead fish, and wait for a bite.

Once hooked, the tarpon is likely to jump very early into the battle. Anglers are often instructed to "bow to the king" when the Tarpon jumps, which refers to hinging at the waist and pointing the rod tip towards the fish, keeping the line slack. This helps avoid line breaks or ripping the hook out while the fish thrashes in the air.

A Tarpon is a bucket list fish for just about any sport fisherman. They are not edible, nor are they legal to keep without specific permits, so make sure you have your camera ready to document your catch of a lifetime when you get it boat side.

Unlike the other inshore species listed here, Tarpon are migratory in nature, and are a very seasonal fish in Naples. They can not be targeted year round. The best time of the year to book your Naples tarpon fishing charter is April through August.

Naples Offshore Fishing

Offshore fishing in the Gulf comes down to two main families of fish; grouper and snapper. More specifically Black Grouper, Gag Grouper, and Red Snapper. Other species targeted offshore would include Amberjack, Wahoo, and Tilefish. It is possible to catch billfish such as Sailfish and Marlin in the Gulf as well, but anglers targeting these species would be doing a disservice to themselves to not head to Florida's Atlantic coast or the Keys.

Naples Grouper Fishing

Grouper are among the most popular offshore targets in the Gulf of Mexico. Known for their abundance, stubborn fighting style, and delicious food quality. From shore-side tiki bars to five star restaurants, a Grouper dish is typically on the menu.

Grouper are bottom feeders, meaning they lie in wait by the ocean floor and prey on fish passing by. With this in mind, you'll want to get your bait on the bottom, or troll deep diving lures. If you are bottom fishing, it is critical that you are a bit "over-tackled." Once a grouper takes the bait, they will immediately try to return to their hole. This can result in snags and broken lines. Set the hook, and get cranking!

Trolling offers a bit more leeway here, as the fish needs to come out of its hole to hit the lure. It will still fight to get back to the rocks however, so tighten up that drag and get the fish to the boat.

Grouper can be caught year round in Naples. In the cooler months however, inshore and nearshore spots can be more productive than deeper offshore spots, as the shallow water is a bit warmer, which is what the grouper prefer. Communicate with your fishing charter captain for the Naples grouper fishing trip of a lifetime!

Naples Snapper Fishing

The Gulf Red Snapper season, typically opening in the summer, brings anglers from around the world to Naples, FL to try their hand at catching their limit of these delicious fish.  Similar to Grouper, Red Snapper are typically bottom dwellers, lying in wait on reefs, wrecks, and other structure.

A Naples fishing charter captain will have a number of techniques for targeting snapper, from "free lining" baits such as sardines and cigar minnows, to drift fishing with just enough weight to keep the bait off of the structure. You can also vertically jig with a heavy, weighted bucktail or spoon to catch these tasty fish. Cut bait works as well, but is more likely to be picked apart by smaller fish on the reef, or picked up by a Grouper instead of your Snapper target.

Red Snapper have been known to put up an epic fight on light tackle, so make sure you are prepared and bring your "A-game" when targeting Naples Red Snapper! Your charter captain will have all the gear and tackle, and many will even clean your fish for you. You just need to show up, enjoy the trip, and have some Red Snapper recipes in mind.

Booking Your Naples Fishing Charter

FishAnywhere partners with dozens of the best guides in the Naples, FL area. We also offer a weather protection guarantee, meaning that if your Naples fishing charter is canceled due to weather and you are unable to reschedule, we will happily refund your deposit. Browse charters by availability, compare trip offerings, and book your next adventure with confidence on FishAnywhere.com!

 

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